Planting trees is the most natural way to make your home garden look beautiful. But a tree, if damaged or diseased, must be removed before it injures someone. Large trees can damage your property and cause injuries if the tree falls over.
Removing small trees from the garden is an easy task and can be carried out without professionals. You can try removing them yourself, but it is better to hire an experienced, professional service in the case of more sizeable trees. They will have the necessary equipment and skills needed to remove large, damaged trees without any risks or injuries.
Check out this guide for tree removal and see how to get it done.
Knowing when to remove a tree
Some dead and damaged trees still offer shade and shelter to wildlife, so you should consider removal only if a tree is structurally weak and may topple over. If more than half the tree is damaged, or if more than a quarter of the trunk or branch is damaged, then you can consider removal.
If a tree leans more than 15 degrees and shows root lifting, or if a tree misses over 1/3rd heartwood, you should get it removed. Hollow trees are more likely to fall. If a tree species is prone to pests, breakage drops dirty debris, comes in the way of your property or power lines, has roots that damage your lawn, etc., you can consider tree removal.
Check local legal regulations
You need to confirm your local legal rules and regulations related to tree cutting and removal. In some areas, it is prohibited to cut trees, even on private properties, for cosmetic and environmental reasons. You can get permission to remove trees if they are close to your property or power lines.
If a tree is in a sensitive area like a floodplain or slope, you may have to take permission from government authorities before removing it. You can visit your local city council’s office for all the details, or the arborist you hire for tree removal can also do this research for you.
Small Tree Removal
A cut through the trunk is enough for trees with a diameter shorter than 7 inches. Trees that have a diameter smaller than 10 inches can be removed by yourself if you have the right tools and equipment for it. When you remove the tree, make sure there is enough space below it so that it does not tumble and damage something. Safety glasses, strong boots, gloves, a big hat, ear protection, etc., are necessary while cutting down a tree.
The chainsaw you use must have a bar as long as the tree’s diameter, and a tree felling wedge will help bring it down in case you face difficulty. A person should supervise the process and notify you about falling branches. Check the direction in which the tree is leaning because it will fall that way. Plan an escape route if the tree comes down in an unpredictable way.
Large Tree Removal
Cutting down a large tree is a risky job for someone with no experience, especially in a home garden setting. We recommend you go with professional tree removal for large trees. They will choose the right approach and have the necessary equipment like big chainsaws needed for the job.
Getting rid of the tree: First of all, an arborist will check the height of the tree to make sure there is ample space for it to fall down at once. Most homes do not have enough horizontal area to accommodate the tree once it falls down. It is vital to clear the space so that nothing gets damaged by the tree when it falls down. The arborist also plans escape routes in case the tree starts falling unexpectedly.
One worker ties a rope, and another guides the tree’s fall through it. A wedge is made on the side where the tree leans, and a back cut is made on the other side.
Tree Removal in sections: Large trees that cannot be fell at one go need to be removed section by section. A rigging cable is used to climb the tree, and its limbs are cut down. After this, the trunks are cut into sections and lowered using a rope. Professionals know where exactly to make notches so that tree sections fall in the desired manner. Arborists also use cranes to make tree removal safer, faster, and less damaging. This method is better than traditional climbing and rigging.
Tree Removal average cost
You may have to pay somewhere between £100 to £500 with the average cost being £400 to £500. A lot of factors like the tree size, type of tree, condition of the tree, number of trees, emergency removal, etc., affect the tree removal cost.
Some companies may be willing to do the work for cheap but make sure you hire an experienced, reliable arborist. Tree removal involves the safety of your property and your garden, so do not compromise with quality while choosing a professional.
You can even look into some additional services related to tree removal, but it will cost extra. A lot of debris is generated when a tree is removed, and companies offer debris removal at additional costs. You may want to keep your tree stump intact, but if you want it removed, you will have to pay for stump removal or grinding. If you love a particular tree, you can try tree transplanting to take it to a new property or location.
Removing or cutting a tree down is not an easy task, and it can cause damage to your property or injure you if proper precautions are not taken. You should hire an experienced, certified professional to do this work for you, especially if you are dealing with large trees.
In the above guide, we read about when a tree needs to be removed and the various techniques you can use for it. It takes some planning for safe tree removal, and you need to consider the costs involved. If you want to remove small trees, then you can do it yourself but leave it to professionals if you want to get large trees removed.
